Fordson power major starter.

Clodhopper · Feb 11, 2019

Hello, my 58 power major is in need of a new starter.
Although I like to try to keep it original I’m thinking about converting it to a key starter instead of the lever operated starter. Is it a big job? Not sure what starter I’d need. I can manage the wiring, just looking for any advice.

timff · Feb 12, 2019

No please don't do it! A Major's not right without the lever!

CornishTone · Feb 12, 2019

Erm... why though?!

Y Fan Wen · Feb 12, 2019

Why does it need a new starter?

Lincsman · Feb 12, 2019

All your doing is adding a solenoid to go wrong.

essexpete · Feb 12, 2019

http://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?p=42450

Clodhopper · Feb 12, 2019

Y Fan Wen said:
Why does it need a new starter?

The starter is slow to turn over, sometimes reluctant to turn at all and takes 3 or 4 presses of the lever to kick it into life. Just a thought that if I’ve got to buy a new starter it may be a useful upgrade to convert it to key start.

Kevtherev · Feb 12, 2019

Get your old one repaired.
Very easy to do brushes armature and starter switch button all available

Kevtherev · Feb 12, 2019

Check your solenoid if the starter is misbehaving

Ley253 · Feb 12, 2019

Starters are much the same power,key switch just replaces the lever operated switch, and solenoid does the pre engagement of the pinion.Would be a good idea to have the old unit overhauled, much better quality than the repro stuff.

Ley253 · Feb 12, 2019

Lincsman said:
All your doing is adding a solenoid to go wrong.

Not really, there is one there already, lives under the battery tray, if memory is correct.

Kevtherev · Feb 12, 2019

Ley253 said:
Not really, there is one there already, lives under the battery tray, if memory is correct.

Bolted on battery tray next to air cleaner

Ley253 · Feb 12, 2019

Nearly right then! Only ever played with one, and that was years ago.

Y Fan Wen · Feb 13, 2019

Clodhopper said:
The starter is slow to turn over, sometimes reluctant to turn at all and takes 3 or 4 presses of the lever to kick it into life. Just a thought that if I’ve got to buy a new starter it may be a useful upgrade to convert it to key start.

The reason I asked is that I had the same fault in 2 different machines of the same age. These starters are series/ parallel so have 4 brushes. In both cases, the spring for the bottom brush had corroded cos of being in the damp so the starter turned over slowly on one half of the circuit. In both cases a new spring cured it all.

Clodhopper · Feb 13, 2019

Y Fan Wen said:
The reason I asked is that I had the same fault in 2 different machines of the same age. These starters are series/ parallel so have 4 brushes. In both cases, the spring for the bottom brush had corroded cos of being in the damp so the starter turned over slowly on one half of the circuit. In both cases a new spring cured it all.

I don’t think I’ve got anything to lose by opening up my starter and having a look. Is a rebuild relatively simple to do? I’m not a novice nor am I an expert but I’m willing to have a go.

Mursal · Feb 13, 2019

Yes relatively easy, hopefully it just needs brushes.
Carefully take the back off, to reveal the 4 brushes and springs holding them tight to the armature.
Work form there ............

Fordson power major starter.

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